Chapter 3
Clarke didn't know how she held back the groan that threatened to erupt from her mouth, but she did. Her body hurt. It wasn't the kind of pain from a wound, but it was a like a full-bodied ache that was felt deep into the marrow of her bones. The type that came from puking all night after a bender, but she hadn't had a drop of alcohol in weeks, months even, and it had been Monty and Jasper's hooch. She'd needed it after stabbing Finn...again.
She mentally put that away. She knew that she had to find a way to spurn him early and often, but the poor boy just didn't seem to take a hint. He needed to stay alive for Raven and Raven alone. Clarke couldn't be on his radar. She wouldn't allow it. She also needed to make sure that Octavia didn't try to go for him. Maybe if she reminded him about Raven, he'd back down. It was something that she hadn't done yet, but it was because she more worried about other things. Raven and Octavia were among those other things, where as Finn wasn't.
She wanted to feel bad about that, but she couldn't find it in herself to. He was always seemingly part of the catalyst that brought the Trikru together with the 100 and finally Skaikru, be it for good or naught. She could see the boy that Raven fell in love with, but the Earth made the man different. She tried to save him several times, but it was always for nothing. Clarke always filed that away as she realized that there were things that she couldn't change without just outright killing him in the beginning. And, as much as she thought about doing it, she would never get over having his blood on her hands.
Her thoughts were racing. She couldn't help the small smile that crossed her mouth as she thought about young Octavia, barely fifteen and finally out in society. It was no surprise that she went a little "boy crazy." The only male that she'd ever spent any time with was her brother, Bellamy, and he wasn't exactly the most welcoming of individuals. Octavia was beautiful and cunning. Two things that the boys that landed with the Hundred were helpless against. The younger girl had figured out how to use her wiles, much to Bellamy's dismay, very quickly to get what she wanted and needed. Thankfully though, Raven grabbed the girl and then put the fear of being pregnant in her head long enough for her to simmer down.
She loved them both, Raven and Octavia. Honestly, they were some of the few that had been helping her stay sane. She didn't fully understand the fresh Hell that she'd found herself in with the time loop/rebirth bullshit that she was living. She knew that Raven would want to do some sort of strange experiments to prove or disprove the closest thing that Clarke had to a running theory about it. As it was, she was glad to have Raven's genius on her side. Octavia was her warrior, her ambassador to Trikru, her "kick ass and take names" person. Raven was the one that blew everything up and then asked questions about it later. Fortunately, they were both safe back at Arcadia, or at least, she hoped that they were. She knew that Raven and Octavia would both step up to protect everyone without her being there. She'd given them enough to keep them friendly enough with the Trikru despite what happened at the Mountain. She might have even told Octavia to kill Pike on sight, too, but she knew that it was one death that would save them a lot of heartache if they got it out of the way early enough. She trusted them over everyone else. They would keep things "good in the neighborhood" until she got back. They were allowing her the time.
Allowing was such a big word. They weren't really allowing it, as much as Clarke was just taking it. They let her go, but it wasn't with out the sadness and the pain in their eyes. She just didn't think about how much that would haunt her in the first few days away, too. It was a first for Clarke, but she'd taken it.
Octavia must have sent word to Indra though. She appreciated the help. She did, she really did, but she was also testing herself. She wanted to see how much she'd actually learned over the last twelve, twenty, whatever number it was lives. She needed to prove that she could do it, so that she wouldn't just crack completely. She knew that it was hard. She expected it. It never got any easier, but she kept moving everyone around like chess pieces on a board, hoping against hope that one time, she'd actually get the "Check Mate" she needed to win and end the repetitive cycle.
She felt a sudden jolt and her mind went back to the pain that covered her body. She tried to remember what she'd eaten the day before. It was nothing but berries and nuts, maybe a little jerky, but they weren't jobi nuts. So, she could rule out having crazy hallucinations about her father, again. It felt like she'd had bad water, but the stream had been flowing and quickly. She knew not to drink stagnant water. It was usually full of things that she didn't even want to think about, let alone try to pronounce if someone asked. Flowing water was still a risk, but the pain would have come on sooner.
And, then she felt the warmth beneath her belly. She wasn't sleeping on the ground. Hell, she wasn't even leaning up against a tree. She was on the back of horse. She was on her stomach, draped over the rump of the horse. She had so many memories of Anya and Tris start flooding her brain. She had to swallow down the pain and compartmentalize all that, while she tried to figure out how and why she was where she was.
Of fucking course, she thought to herself. She'd been captured in her sleep. If she'd even fallen asleep, it felt like she'd just passed out due to the tainted water or pure fucking exhaustion. But, the had to admit something else to herself. She'd been stupid, lighting fires at night and not covering her tracks. She'd practically given the bounty hunters a free pass to find her. She couldn't believe that she'd been that stupid.
She tried to open her eyes, but they hurt. She wasn't sure if it was because of something she'd ingested or if they were covered. She knew that she was tied up, but it didn't stop her from being able to smell the horse she was on. She tried to take stock of all the pains and aches in her body. She raised her head just a little away from the horse and took a deep breath. All she could smell was crisp air. There was a different smell from the trees, and it was one that she couldn't place. She didn't know what direction they were going, but she was sure that it wasn't back to Polis and Lexa or back to Skaikru. She tried not to shift too much to let her captor know that she was waking, but she couldn't stop the groan that finally made its way out once they crossed over some horrible bumpy bit trail.
"Morning, Wanheda," a voice called out to her from the left.
She realized that she recognized the voice. She knew the person. It wasn't Roan, but they were from Azgeda and it was a woman. She knew that Echo wasn't going to be the most welcoming and friendly to her. She hadn't spent time in Space with the others for six plus years as the Earth renewed itself. Clarke hadn't saved her from Praimfaya, yet, in this life. She wasn't the same Echo that had faced hardships with her, over and over again, as they fought together to survive. She was still very much Nia's spy, even if she had survived the Mountain. She had to prove that she was still loyal even though Clarke and Lexa had delivered everyone that wasn't of the Mountain from its deepest and darkest depths. Echo was just another warrior who wanted blood for what was taken from her at this point. And, Clarke knew that she deserved every ounce.
"You don't have to talk to me. In fact, I prefer it if you didn't," Echo told her. "But, then again, you've only been with the stupid Trikru for a moon, if the tales are truth. I doubt that they've taught you anything. You don't even speak our shared language, do you, Skaigada?"
Clarke didn't move. She tried to stay still, but every movement of the horse she was draped over hurt. In that moment, she knew two things. One, Echo had her and was still in her "kill everything that isn't Azgeda" phase. And two, she heading towards her own death by Nia's hands unless there was something that she could come up with to convince Echo not to let that happen. She had time, but she didn't know how long. She also didn't know how much about the Grounders that she should let Echo know that she knew. Should she reply in Trigedasleng? Or, should she pretend she didn't understand and keep using only Gonasleng (English) with anyone else that she came in contact with?
"You awake back there, Skai Rat?" Echo asked, using English this time.
"I'm getting there, Azputa (Ice bitch)," Clarke answered, proud of herself for mixing some Trig with Spanish in her distressed state.
She thought about it for a second, and maybe, just maybe, it wasn't the most adult thing to do. She was tired and defeated. She really didn't want a fight, but she knew that she was going to have one with Echo no matter what she said. So, in her little befuddled mind, it made sense for her to piss Echo off, even if it was in a language that Echo wouldn't know. She was actually proud of herself for remembering all the curse words that she'd heard Raven use before.
"We'll stop soon for some water. I'm sure that you want to rinse that taste out of your mouth," Echo stated before murmuring under her breath. "How did this child manage to bring down the mountain?"
Clarke wanted to laugh. They all still thought that Clarke was alone in doing it, and honestly, she kept letting them. For her mental state, as fragile as it was, it was better that way. She bore it, so they didn't have to. Which brings her back to being slung over the back of Echo's horse in the early morning without knowing how she got there.
"That sounds nice," Clarke replied.
"I'm sure it does. Only a branwoda would have thought that the cory nut was a jobi nut and ate it. Did those Trikru teach you anything?"
"How to die," Clarke retorted.
Okay, so maybe she was still a little bitter. She figured she every right to be, even if she told Lexa to take the deal this time around. It didn't mean that it didn't hurt. She still saw that strange look in Lexa's eyes as she walked off, but it was Clarke's fault this go round, right? Right? She was so tired of this game and she wanted off the ride. She just didn't know how to make it all stop.
Clarke was brought out of her little pity party by Echo's laugh. It was short and slightly melodic, something that she wasn't used to hearing, and to be honest, it caught her completely off guard. Echo was stoic, intense, harsh, and straightforward with her hatred. Clarke could understand and empathize with it, but in all her lives, she'd never heard Echo laugh. She could only wonder why.
"I would work on your speeches, Wanheda, or Queen Nia will end your fight quickly."
"Let her. It won't change anything. Not that you'd notice, but it's whatever."
Great, Clarke, go for nonchalant and get flippant why don't you?
"Do all Skaikru talk so much?"
"Most of us, yeah, we do. Wait until you meet Raven, she'll blow you away with her wit. But, if want a drinking buddy, ask for Jasper. He'll pour one out for you and then drink you under the table, skinny thing that he is. Or, do you want someone proud and strong with loose morals, then Bellamy's your man."
Again, Clarke, for real. How much more childish can you get? Just tell her where the hell the camp is, so Azgeda can go ahead a level it while your at it?
"I know this Bellamy."
"How?" Clarke asked, already knowing the answer.
"I was in the Mountain," Echo clipped out.
"Ah," Clarke replied, because, really what could she say to that?
She always wondered where Bellamy and Echo originally met. Being that it was in the Mountain, it made more sense to her why he was so willing to listen to the spy, even when Clarke wondered if part of Bellamy knew that she couldn't be fully trusted. It wasn't that Echo was a truly bad person, but she's wasn't exactly always on their side. Clarke couldn't really blame her for that either. She was kinda at an impasse, but there was nothing Clarke could do about it at the moment. She was slightly at Echo's mercy, however small that was.
"There is a clearing up ahead. We will stop there. Don't try anything, Skaigada. I don't want to have to hurt you," Echo commanded.
Clarke raised an eyebrow, but then realized that Echo couldn't even see it. True to her word, Echo pulled up near a clearing. She even was nice enough to ease Clarke off the back of the horse and didn't just drop her. If Clarke didn't know any better about this version of Echo, she would believe that she actually cared. She stood up, her body swaying slightly as it tried to equalize itself on steady and firm ground.
She let Echo lead her over to a tree and sit her down. When her ass hit the cold ground, she felt a water skin being pressed into her hands near her stomach. "Here," Echo said as she thrust something into her Clarke's abdomen. "Ooof," Clarke wheezed out as she wrapped her bound hands around the object. She took it easily and raised it to her mouth. The water was cool and refreshing.
"Drink a little, and then spit it out. It'll get the nasty coating that the cory nut left. I would do it at least twice," Echo stated.
Clarke realized that she was blindfolded, but it wasn't by a sack over her head. Whatever Echo was using wasn't tight and she could barely feel it. Her hands were bound with a sturdy rope and the knots seemed impossible for her loosen. For now, she would wait and see what Echo would do with her. For now, she would rinse her mouth out and listen to the spy. For now, she would bide her time and learn what she could about the woman she knew as Echo and maybe a little about Azgeda, too. It couldn't hurt her to learn more about the one people that wanted her dead, every fucking time she came back to Earth.
"Don't swallow that. Spit out at least twice," Echo advised her.
Clarke cocked her head. She could hear Echo moving around near her, but she didn't seem so occupied with Clarke. She wondered if this was because Echo didn't think she was a threat or if she was waiting to see what Clarke would do. The younger woman decided that she would take Echo's advice. She could only hope that Echo wasn't trying to kill her, at least not yet.
She spit the first round of water out to her left. She raised the skin and took another large mouthful. She rinsed it around her mouth and spit it out again. She tried not to smile at the fact that Echo had been truthful with her. She did it a third time just to make sure that she got the awful taste out of her mouth. After she spit this time, she heard Echo grunt at her. She took a really big swing the last time and then reached out in front of her with the skin towards where she thought that Echo was. The skin was taken from her hands.
"We will rest here for a few more moments and then you'll ride in front of me," Echo told her.
"Scared I might fall off?" Clarke questioned.
"No, Skaigada, I'm not," Echo replied. "I just figured that it would be a bit more comfortable for you to sit in front of me, than ride on your belly on the back. But, if you wish to ride on your belly, I'll accommodate you."
"NO!" Clarke answered quickly before schooling herself. "In front will be fine."
"Besides, that just makes you a human shield for me," Echo told her.
Clarke could hear the humor in her voice. She imagined the smirk that Echo had on her face, but she didn't care. At least, she would be a little more comfortable. She would endure whatever humiliation that Echo gave her, as long as she made it to Nia relatively unscathed. Clarke had to admit that she was in a quesi-self-preservation mode. She didn't necessarily want to die, but if she did, she wanted it to be on her own terms.
Echo was remarkably nice about getting Clarke back on her feet. Roan had just tugged her along. Echo actually seemed to care. This made Clarke worry some. Echo wasn't being overly nice, but she wasn't trying to hurt her either. It seemed like there was a form of respect in Echo's movements, but Clarke wasn't stupid. She knew that Echo would hurt her and sacrifice her if needed. Clarke was just a means to an ends for Echo. She was a bargaining piece and nothing more. Clarke's survival depended on the whims of Azgedan women.
"Will you talk to me on the ride?" Clarke asked her as she led back over to the horse.
Echo grunted as she raised Clarke's bound hands up to the saddle, "Hold on here."
She felt Echo ran her arms down Clarke's leg and lift her left foot up into a stirrup. Clarke thought about the fact that in the position that she could have injured Echo, but it wouldn't have helped her really. Her hands were still bound. Her eyes were still covered, and she had no Earthly idea where they actually were. While it would have served her in the immediate, it would have punished her in the long run. Clarke knew that she had to play the long game. Echo settled her on the horse quickly and easily. It was remarkable considering the situation that they were in, but then again, Clarke wasn't fighting her.
Praimfaya was still coming. It was something that she couldn't stop. So, Clarke tried to figure out how long she had until the end of the world...again. She had to think about how long she'd actually been on the ground now. She figured that it was roughly about two and a half months, which meant that she had about four months before the world was going to burn. She needed to use that against Nia, but she didn't know how.
"We have a few days until we get to Troi. I would get your rest, Wanheda. Nia isn't going to be as nice as I am with you," Echo warned her as she saddled up behind Clarke.
"Why haven't you just killed me?" Clarke asked as she felt Echo reach around to her to pick up the reins.
"Because I owe you my life and unlike most of Azgeda, I believe in the Legend of Wanheda."
"I thought that all warriors would want my head to take my power?" Clarke questioned.
"That may be, but the true believers want to see what you will do. You have power, Skaigada. You just don't have the will to use it," Echo explained. "So, either you find your power, or Nia will break you and use it for herself. That choice is entirely yours."
